19 Jul 2016

Boyle has illness set-back

6:35 pm on 19 July 2016

New Zealand swimmer Lauren Boyle has had a set-back in her Olympic build-up.

The medal hope flies out with the nine-strong swimming team on Thursday for their preparation camp in the US prior to heading to Rio.

Over the last week and a half Boyle has been struck down with an infection and that has had an impact on her training schedule.

New Zealand's top swimmer Lauren Boyle.

New Zealand's top swimmer Lauren Boyle. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

"I've been quite sick and had a throat and sinus infection which has changed my training as to what I thought it would be, and now I'm just trying to do what I can with, what I've got and trying to keep a positive mind-set."

Boyle said she did not know how it was going to impact her final build-up.

"I was picking holes in my preparation and thinking about how things weren't perfect before I was sick and now that I've been sick I'm kind of thinking 'wow, I should have been a lot more grateful for what I had, and how it was going'. I'm going to try and use that realisation in the next few weeks and just appreciate what I have and do what I can with what I've got."

Boyle said it might be a bit more challenging to reach her peak at Rio but was hopeful she could still achieve that.

Boyle is competing in the 400m and 800m freestyle, and is a genuine medal contender.